As you know from our phone call, our first few days have been more than busy--rather more busy than for any previous visit. In part, we hit the ground running, though in a bit of haze. The Air Transat flight went very well indeed, arriving at about 9:30 a.m. We took a taxi to the Centre Mennonite de Paris, were most warmly greeted by the Bloughs who always make the Centre seem like our second home. Yves Garret was also here to greet us, the retired theologian who works on the Library throughout the year and also fills in as guest preacher for various Reformed congregations in his area. We always treasure our mealtimes with him in the small common kitchen on the main floor.
We love getting groceries as soon as we arrive, it gives us a chance to take a brisk walk, and an opportunity to see the changes in the neighbourhood. We dropped by the SFR store, got two SIM cards for our phones so that we can transform our phones from Canadian to French phones.
On the 23rd (Saturday), we visited our favourite marché (market) in Charenton Le Pont (the bridge, which some of us like to think was the bridge over which Janice's ancestors surely traveled when immigrating from the Montbéliard region to La Harvre in order to sail to the USA). In the afternoon, I went to see a car show at the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Louvre. The Citroën company put on a nice show which displayed both old cars and new. I had more fun taking photos of the people looking at the cars. Even the chef making interesting tidbits was having fun.
I quickly tire of cars, so I took a stroll through the 1er arrondissement, an opportunity to do a bit of street photography.
Sunday was Pentecost, but I felt too tired to face a church service in French just yet, so we went on a quiet walk instead, going through the Île St Louis, one of our favourite little islands in the midst of the River Seine. The weather was warm, so people were out, lining up with children for ice cream, sitting on the walls along the river, and filling all the café tables in sight.
We continued walking through parts of the 5e arrondissement on the left bank.
Our day ended by hearing the weekly Sunday 5:30 organ concert at St Eustache, near Les Halles, which was once the city's main market and slaughter house. The charcuterie/pork sausages etc. often came from animals sold in the now-gone market. I found a window supplied by the charcuterie people. I attend the organ recitals every Sunday I can.
With love from us both,
Evan
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